If you like looking at pictures
of competition-quality model boats of all sorts, then this is the article for you. The 1995 Annual edition of Air
Trails published this piece to demonstrate the huge variety of model boats that we built and sailed in the day,
with loads of talent crammed into each pixel. America was filled with craftsmen who had built and operated the equipment
that resulted to victory in World War II. Their skills were on ample display in the form of hand-built steam
engines and internal combustion engines, rubber-powered submarines some of which were 5 feet long, radio controlled
tug boats and even speed boats sporting not just one but two - count 'em, two - Dyna-Jet engines! Can you imagine
the racket those babies made when fired up?!!! That's not to say there are not many exceptionally talented craftsmen
today, just that as a percentage of the population they are much less represented.

Officially Recognized by the International Model Power Boat
Association

Radio controlled steam-powered tugboat model "Consultor II," is owned by H. C. Free and Ed DeGear. Clockwise
in photos by Dick Everett.Mr. Free preparing to fire up steam engine after removing superstructure: escape valve
blows off steam while operator adjusts blow torch which provides heat for the boiler - see steam whistle at
top of stack: looking forward along starboard side - tug took nearly 2 years in building; 135 pounds of miniature
tugboat gets underway - whistle is radio controlled; close-up of 2-cylinder engine, uses water from lake; Rockwood
5-channel receiver installed in upper deck which hooks into hull through one electrical plug - milliammeter
in pilot house, switch turns off radio. Model is 6 feet long. Its owners belong to San Francisco Model Yacht
Club.

They're not cool, man - they're hot! Francis X. Gruber, Albany, N. Y. (386 2nd St.) designed and built these
awesome affairs. Light-colored one is powered by a single Dyna-Jet; the other has two D·J's! Called "Nottinss
Special," 4' long, 22" wide and 14" high at the fin. Weight is 20 pounds. We're awaiting the running. reports.

Excellent craftsmanship and perfect realism are shown in these two photos of 58" model of a Salvage Tub built
by Lowell Lamb of Southern California Model Power Boat & Yacht Association. Powered by steam, boat is controlled
by radio. (These photos by Bill Baughman) "Anna I" and Chris-Craft Catalina shots by Dick Everett, author of
ATH's well-known Western Roundup column.)

Charles Hering, West Los Angeles, built this model of 125 foot diesel engine powered yacht. Recently completed,
this 31 inch miniature is powered by 7-pole permanent magnet motor which runs off wet cell batteries. Could
be mistaken for the real thing.

Here's a convenient way to start small boats submitted by the versatile Bill Baughman of Los Angeles. If you're
tired of trying to hold the boat yourself, or getting someone else to do so when you start the engine, build
up a holder similar to this one. Protected with an old inner tube, boat is held snug while the starting cord
is used. Boxes shown, war surplus ammo cases, work fine.

Max Biederman of New York. Model Knights owns world record Class A which set mark of 69.23 mph. boat and engine
both by Max. Motor is 2-cycle, disc rotary valve, glow plug ignition.

Class E (10 c.c.) by Ralph Richards of Philadelphia. Power is stock McCoy, .60, glow plug. Same hull design-size
as MacWilliams', laid out by Harry Traband. Holds record at 84.50.

James Stribling prepares to launch his boat at the start of a "marathon race." Idea is to "free run" your boat
around basin or lake while you, the contestant, attempt to keep up on foot with craft. Boats usually win; Jim
was victor this time.

No, it's not a full-sized freighter traveling along on a calm sea - it's a beautiful 30 inch model of a small
freighter built by Lowell Lamb of SCMPB&YA. Job is free running type; detail is very complete; power is
steam engine which blows steam out the miniature stack giving illusion of real smoke (which can be seen faintly
in the photo here by Bill Baughman).

Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some form of model
building activity. This site has been created to help me chronicle my journey through
a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which
all began in Mayo, MD
...